# [[Cascading Failures]]
A cascading failure in computing is a significant degradation in a service that was initially caused by a single event that compounded.
Cascading failures occur because of the system's failure to react intelligently and appropriately to an error. In most cascading failures, the triggering event is a small error that causes a domino effect of reactions that only serve to further increase degradation.
## Examples of cascading failures
- [[Retry storm]]
- [[Thundering herd problem]]